Folding table center leg structure

ABSTRACT

A centrally foldable table in which the improvement consists of having a single centrally disposed supporting leg operatively connected to the end legs of said table and having a sliding sleeve thereon connected by link members to the top plate members of said table.

United States Patent 1191 Gutierrez FOLDING TABLE CENTER LEG STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Julian Gutierrez, 6233 Brookview Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 55424 22 Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 418,298

1451 May 20, 1975 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leo Gregory [57] ABSTRACT 1 E 5 ggi A centrally foldable table in which the improvement [58] Field 297/159 consists of having a single centrally disposed supporting leg operatively connected to the end legs of said table and having a sliding sleeve thereon connected by [56] U S Sf T F SZi link members to the top plate members of said table. 2,596,250 5/1952 Klingler 108/113 x 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures /0 //2 u- 24 4 "111 1 111 111m 5 o 11111 1111'. 1 m

5a 1 4 9 I 5 Y 5 PATENTED HAY 2 01975 SHEET 20F 2 m fiN rm FOLDING TABLE CENTER LEG STRUCTURE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OFTI-IE INVENTION Tables adapted to fold upwardly centrally are commonly provided with a central pair of transversely spaced leg members the respective leg members being adjacent each side of the table. Thus an obstruction is present with respect to the available leg room for a person sitting centrally at each side of said table.

It is an object of this invention to provide a foldable table structure which will be free of obstruction at the central side portions thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a foldable table structure having a central support spaced inwardly of the sides of said table leaving unobstructed leg room adjacent each side edge portion centrally of said table.

It is more specifically an object of this invention in connection with a centrally foldable table to provide a single central supporting leg having link members running from said leg to the respective end supporting members of said table and said central leg having a slidable sleeve thereon, said sleeve being connected by link members to the top plate members of said table whereby said central leg provides a rigid support.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view partially in section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation in partially folded condition; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 as indicated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Fig, a foldable table is shown comprising a pair of top plate members 12 and 14 substantially rectangular in plan arranged in longitudinally spaced relation. Each of said plate members has disposed thereunder opposed pairs of rails 16 and 18 adjacent each side edge portion thereof and extending lengthwise thereof. The respective adjacent end portions 22 and 24 of said rails are shown curved downwardly as indicated in FIG. 1 and the same overlap and are apertured to be hingedly connected in a conventional manner by a bar 25 extending through said apertures and between said rails, said bar being secured by end nuts 25a and a tubular member 26 is shown overlying said bar between said rails.

Conventional torsion'bars 27 and 28 are operatively secured between each pair of said rails and are spaced inwardly of the remote end portions of said plate mem bers.

Depending respectively from each of said torsion bars are pairs of transversely spaced supporting leg members 3031 and 3435. The lower ends of said leg members are shown to be curved outwardly with respect to said table and to be equipped with suitable castors.

Extending between each pair of said leg members substantially centrally lengthwise thereof are cross bars 41 and 42.

Depending from said tubular member 26 centrally longitudinally thereof is a Supporting leg member 43. Said leg member is rigidly secured to said tubular member 26 as by welding.

A sleeve 45 is slidably disposed over the lower portion of said leg member 43, said sleeve member being shown having a pair of opposed ears 46 and 48 adjacent the upper portion thereof and extending longitudinally of said table.

Secured to undersides 12a and 14a of said top plate members 12 and 14 are a pair of angle brackets 49 and 50 having a pair of link members 52 and 53 respectively pivoted at one end thereto by pin or rivet members 56 and said link members are respectively pivoted at their other ends to said cars 46 and 48 by rivet or pin members 56. Said sleeve member is of a length such as to be short of reaching the floor with the table in open operating position as shown in FIG. 1 and to have its upper end portion 45a retained on said leg member 43 when said table is in a folded position such as indicated with the illustration of a partially folded table in FIG. 3.

A pair of short rigid link members 60 and 61 are respectively secured as by welding to said cross bar members 41 and 42 and are here shown to be angled somewhat downwardly in a direction toward one another as indicated in FIG. 1. Secured to said leg member 43 as by welding at opposite sides thereof are short projecting rod members 58 and 59 respectively having angled downwardly therefrom short rigid link members 66 and 67. Said link members 60 and 61 are in off center positions transversely of said bars 41 and 42 to be in opera tive alignment with said link members 67 and 66 respectively.

Connecting said link members 60 and 67 and said link members 61 and 66 respectively are tension bars 70 and 71, said bars being secured at their respective ends to said respective link members by rivets or pins 73. Referring to FIG. 1, said link 66 is shown angled away from said link 61 and said link 67 is shown angled away from said link 60. Said tension rod members are arranged to have said central leg 43 rigidly held in operating position.

OPERATION With respect to the central supporting leg structure which comprises the essential subject matter of the invention herein, it is readily seen, in view of FIGS. 1 and 2, that there is unobstructed space centrally of said table 10 at either side thereof and that ample leg space is present whereby the central portion of the table is more suitably utilized for seating purposes than are conventional type tables which have a pair of central supporting legs located adjacent the outer edge portions of the table.

Said central leg is rigidly held in position by the tension bars 70 and 71 taken together with the link members 60 and 61 which secure the sleeve member 45. Said central leg structure as herein disclosed and described simplifies substantially the construction of a centrally folding table and greatly reduces the number of elements required for a folding structural arrangement of a table.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention herein which, generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vertically foldable table having in combination a pair of top plate members,

hinge means connecting the adjacent end portions of said plate members,

a single supporting leg extending from said hinge means centrally transversely of said table, 

1. A vertically foldable table having in combination a pair of top plate members, hinge means connecting the adjacent end portions of said plate members, a single supporting leg extending from said hinge means centrally transversely of said table, a pair of transversely spaced leg members adjacent each remote end portion of said plate members, said pairs of leg members each have a cross member therebetween, rods respectively pivotally connecting said supporting leg with said last mentioned pairs of leg members rigidly holding said supporting leg member in operating position, a sleeve slidably disposed onto the lower portion of said suporting leg, and links eXtending from said sleeve member to adjacent portions of said plate members, holding said supporting leg in rigid operating position. 